Rohingya an issue important for Commonwealth, says its SG

08 Aug,2018

UNB:

Visiting Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland on Wednesday said Rohingya issue is an important issue for the Commonwealth.

Scotland came up with the remark while speaking at an event, titled 'The Commonwealth Advantage: Progress and Potential', at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies in Dhaka in the morning.

Responding to a question, she said Rohingya issue is an important issue for the Commonwealth, and appreciated Bangladesh for sheltering and providing humanitarian support to a large number of Rohingyas.

Foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali spoke at the event as the chief guest.

The secretary general arrived Dhaka Wednesday leading a four-member delegation to have discussions with the head of government, ministers and other public figures on priorities and commitments.

This is part of her first official visit to three Commonwealth member countries in Asia.

During the visit, she will meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and a number of other ministers and dignitaries of Bangladesh, said the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.

Ahead of the visit, she said Bangladesh is greatly valued by members of the Commonwealth family and it looks forward to acquainting herself more closely with the many encouraging and positive developments taking place in Bangladesh and in the region - and with challenges which the convening power of the Commonwealth can help to tackle.

Next year, Scotland said, Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers' Meeting.

‘This will again be an opportunity to share the best legal practice from throughout the commonality and yet rich diversity of our Commonwealth family in order to improve access to justice for all our citizens,’ she said.

The Secretary-General will have discussions on priorities and commitments agreed by leaders at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, and will update them on the strategic implementation of the work to be undertaken.